Venetian blind slat



Sept. 13, 1938. s. HAMMER VENETIAN BLIND SLAT Filed May 18, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 1 5 G! O 5 m M l 2 M 2 44M. 2 v E I at W m 3 R A M 72 E mHm 3 ma 5 A w 0 W -s lo? M mv T Q 4 4 B fi- O\ a m z l m F L FIG.4

Sept. 13, 1938. s. HAMMER VENETIAN BLIND SLAT Filed May 18, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 SAMUEL HAMMER INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1938UNITED STATES VENETIAN BLIND SLAT Samuel Hammer, Brooklyn, N. Y.,asslg'nor to United Metal Box 00., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application May 18, 1934, Serial No. 726,225

32 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the method of manufacturingfrom a thin strip of sheet metal a Venetian blind slat by piercing aplurality of apertures proximate the edge portion of the strip andforming said edge portion into a stiffening or reinforcing memberextending longitudinally of the strip so that the apertures in thefinished slat are disposed in a plane substantially normal to the planeof the slat.

An important object of the invention is to make, as an'article ofmanufacture, a Venetian blind slat from a thin sheet metal strip so thatthe finished slat is but little, if any, heavier than a slat made ofwood and which has the same overall dimensions and in other respectssuperior to the wooden slat.

Another object of the invention is to construct a Venetian blind slatforming means in combination therewith for securely fastening to theedge faces thereof, with a clip or other fastening means, a supportingtape which may be easily removed as occasion requires.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means for usingslats made of thin sheet material, preferably sheet metal, incombination with what may be described as single supporting tapes asdistinguished from the double, or the so-called ladder tape heretoforeused extensively in the manufacture of such blinds.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for securelyfastening the tapes to the edges of the slats by a clip. or otherfastening means, whichmeans may be easily removed as occasion requires.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the overall bundling heightof the slats and head bar of a Venetian blind when said blind is raisedto the top of the window.

Other objects of my invention will either become apparent or bespecifically referred to in the following description thereof in whichreference is made to the accompanying drawings, and in which Figure 1 isa perspective view of a fragment of a Venetian blind showing a pluralityof slats suspended by means of tapes, which tapes are secured to theedges of the slats.

Figures 2 and 2a are a group view showing the left-hand end of the slatshown in Figure 1 as seen from the under side thereof, and showing theright-hand end of a development of a strip from which the other end (notshown in Figure 1) of said slat is formed.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2. v

F'gures 4 and 4a are a group view showing the right-hand end of amodified form of the slats shown in Figure 2 and showing the left-handend of a development of a strip from which said slat is formed.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a group view showing the left-hand end of the slat shown inFigure 2 with a tape fastening clip positioned opposite perforationsdisposed in the edge face of the slat for connectlng the tape to theslat.

Figure 7 is a group view of the right-hand end of the slat shown inFigure 4 with a modified form of tape fastening clip positionedproximate the perforations in the slat for connecting the tape to theslat.

Figure 8 shows an enlarged assembly view of the clip and slat shown inFigure 6 when a tape is secured by the clip to the edge of the slat.

Figure 8a shows a fragment of an edge view of a slat having amodifledform of clip aperture formed therein.

Figure 9 shows a detailed view of the manner in which a clip of the formshown in Figure 7 may be inserted and securely fastened to the edge ofthe slat.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line ill-40 of Figure 8 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 shows an enlarged assembly view of the clip and slat shown inFigure 7 when the tape is secured by the clip to the edge of the slat.

It will be understood that a Venetian blind such as referred to hereincomprises what is generally described as a head bar mounted in anysuitable manner at the top of a window, such for example, as by means ofsuitable supporting brackets. A series of slats, terminating in alowermost slat is suspended from the head bar by any suitable form offlexible members, such as tapes, which are usually secured to theupper-- most slat from which all of the other slats are supported. Allof the slats and the head bar are perforated to permit the passagetherethrough of raising and lowering cords which are secured to thelowermost slat and conducted by guiding pulleys to an accessibleposition at one side of the blind. Inasmuch as my present inventionrelates principally to the formation of a slat and the method of makingthe same, so that the supporting members or tapes may be securelyattached to the edge face thereof by means of clips it is believedunnecessary to illustrate the complete blind, particularly in view oflowing description.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be seen that a series of slats II aresupported in spaced relationship with one another, by flexible membersI! made of any suitable flexible material, but preferably fabric tapesas here shown. All of the slats are perforated as at I! to permit thepassage therethrough of a raising and lowering cord the 101- ll. Asstated above, the slats I! are preferably has been performed thereonwhich operation comprises piercing in the strip the two spaced holesthrough which the lifting cords pass and simultaneously piercing fourgroups of holes I9, 20, and 2|, for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed.

For purposes of definition, the surface of the strip may be divided bylines 22 passing longitudinally through the centers of the holes I! and20 at the sides of the strip, respectively, and lines 23 passinglongitudinally through the strip, and near each edge thereof. The areabetween the lines 22 I shall refer to as a web, and the areas betweenthe edges of the strip and the lines 22 I shall refer to as ribs, whilethe areas between the lines 22 and 22 will be referred to as the edgeportions of the strip.

The next operation in the forming of my slat is that of stamping orotherwise forming ribs 24 and 25 respectively at each longitudinal edgeof the strip by bending the edges thereof along the lines 28 into aposition at right angles to the plane of the strip. Thereafter the edgesof the strip are preferably further bent along the zones passing throughthe holes l8 and 20 which zones are indicated generally by the lines 22,to form at each edge of the strip a tubular reinforcement like thatshown in Figure 3. It will be understood that the several steps abovedescribed in the formation of the slat are merely for the purpose ofanalysis and that one or more of said steps may in practice be performedsimultaneously.

The tapes I6 above described comprise a plurality of spaced tubularloops 28 disposed on one side thereof in any suitable manner, as beingstitched to the tape, or woven integrally therewith. It will beunderstood that the distance between the loops 28 is equal to thedesired distance between the slats, see Figure 1.

Figure 6 illustrates what I shall describe, for the want of a bettername, as a spring clip 30, or a fastening. means, by which the tapes l8are secured to the edge face of the slats. 'Ihe clip 20 is preferablymade of a piece of spring wire having the ends thereof bent to form arms3| and 22, and having hooks 32 and 34 formed by bending a portion of thearms outwardly and rearwardiy until the ends 35 and 36 of the hooks arenormally spaced from the arms and disposed in a line removed from theline of the head of the clip, indicated by the location of the numeralII. It will be understood that when the clip is bent as described, thatthe parts 20 to 24 are all disposed in the same plane. In practice, the

diameter of the wire from which the clip is made will usually be greaterthan the thickness of the material of the strip.

Figures 8 and i0 illustrate how, after the clip above described isinserted into one of the tape loops 26, it may be pressed into the holesI. and 20, which holes have a diameter less than the distance betweenthe ends I! and I! of the hooks and the arms 3| and 32 by merely apply nsufflcient pressure on the clip to flex the ends of the hooks towardsthe arms of the clip until the clip is pressed into the slat far enoughfor the ends of the hooks to prevent the withdrawal of the clip throughthe holes I! and 2|. It will also be understood that the amount ofdeformation required of the hooks is not sufilcient to cause thematerial of the clip to acquire a permanent set, but that whenv the clipflnally connects the tapes securely to the slat it will assume itsoriginal shape.

The hole 2| above described is for use whenever it is desired to removethe clip from the slat,

which removal is eifected by inserting the point of any suitableinstrument through the hole 2| and applying sufficient pressure to thehook it to press the same toward the arm II a sumcient distance to allowthe end of the hook II to pass outwardly through the hole II. when oneend of the clip is thus disconnected from the slat the other end may bewithdrawn without difficulty by properly manipulating the clip.

It will, however, be understood that the clip could be just aseffectively employed if a single slot 31, see Figure 8a, were formed inthe edge face of the slat equal in width to the diameter of the holes Isand 20, and having a length suitable for the insertion of the clip justdescribed, because the material between the holes II and 2| serves nopurpose except to contribute to the stiffness and rigidity of the slatas a whole. In view of the above, it will be understood how a singleedge slot perforation may be employed for the engagement of the clipwith the slat instead of the two circular perforations l8 and 20 hereshown. It will also be noted that it is not essential that the edgeportion of the slat be made in tubular formation because theperforations l2 and 20 may be formed in the rib portions of a fln-.ished slat having generally a channel shape in cross-section. In such aslat however, the height of the ribs would be somewhat greater thanthose illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 in order to provide for theformation therein of holes similar to II and 20. Obviously'when a slatof this generally shaped construction is formed, the release holes 2|become unnecessary. In either case I have found that a desirable slatfor use with my clips may be made of comparatively thin sheet metalhaving an edge face formed thereon of an effective width of about threethirty-seconds of an inch.

Figures 4, 5,7, 9 and 11 show a modified form of the slat and clipconstructions just described in connection with Figures 6, 8 and 10. Inthe description of these modifications, I shall employ similar referencenumerals to represent portions thereof which are similar to thestructures above described. The principal difference in the constructionof this modified slat is that rectangular perforations 40, see Figure 4,are punched in the sheet metal instead of the holes ll'and 2| abovedescribed, and the ribs 24 and 2| are notched at 4 I. It will be seenthat when the ribs of the strip are formed as above described, theperforations ll and notches ll form a passage through the tubu- Iarsenic for reinforcement of the slat which passage opens in the edgeface of the slat adjacent the perforations 20, and in substantially thesame location as the holes 19 above descri :1-1

Figure 7 illustrates a form of spring wire clip construction to be usedwith a slat like that shown in Figures 4 and 5 and comprises a headportion 44 having a hook 45 formed at one end thereof by bending thewire through reverse curves so that the hook 55 extends longitudinallybeyond the head ti and is disposed at one side of the head in a lineparallel thereto. The wire at the other end of the clip is bent to forman extension 56 terminating in a hook 4?, both of which lie in the sameplane as the book did.

Figure 9 illustrates, in full lines, the manner in which the hook 45 isfirst inserted into the perforation and, in dotted lines, how the hook47 may beinserted through the perforation 40 and thereafter pressed intoengagement with the rib by passing through the notch it.

Figure 11 shows the tape l6 fastened to a slat of this form by means ofa clip 44 just described. To release the clip 44 it is only necessary topress the hook 41 toward the right, as seen in Figure 9 in order todispose the same over the notch 4i, whence the clip may be easilyremoved.

It should be understood that when the edges of the strips are bent andthe slats are finally formed surfaces in the embodiment of the inventionhere shown may be said to include the planes passing through theuppermost and lowermost surfaces of the tubular reinforcements formed,as above described, along each edge of the slat. .An important reasonfor forming the slat in this manner is to be able, with the clip meansabove described, to fasten the tapes to the slats so that when the blindis elevated the slats will nest together face to face whereby thebundling height of the slats is no greater than the summation of theoverall thicknesses of the several slats of the blind. Heretofore, thetapes of Venetian blinds have been fastened to the slats by meanspassing through the upper and lower major surfaces of the slat with theresult that when the blind is elevated either the fastening means orportions of the tapes themselves were interposed between adjacent slatsand necessarily prevented the slats from contacting or nesting togetherface to face, as I prefer to construct my blind.

While I have described what seems now to be the preferred embodiments ofmy invention, it is conceivable that various modifications in theconfiguration, composition and disposition of the component elementsgoing to make up my invention as a whole, as well as in the selectivecombination and application of the respective elements, may occur tothose skilled in the art, and no limitation is intended by thephraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in theaccompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

i. A Venetian blind slat comprising a strip of thin sheet metalstiffened by having the longitudinal edges thereof bent into spacedrelationship with respect to said strip to form at each edge of the slata tubular reinforcement adjacent the plane of the strip, said strip alsohaving apertures opening from the edge of the slat into the tubularreinforcements, and release apertures in the tubular reinforcement.

' 2. A Venetian blind slat comprising a strip of thin sheet metalstiffened by having the longitudinal edges thereof bent into spacedrelationship with respect to said strip to form at each edge of the slata tubular reinforcement adjacent the plane of the strip, said strip alsohaving apertures opening from the edge of the slat into the tubularreinforcements, and release apertures in the tubular reinforcement, oneof said apertures being disposed opposite a similar aperture at theother side of said tubular reinforcement.

3. A Venetian blind, comprising a sheet metal slat having portionsforming clip apertures in the edge face of said slat and a releaseaperture in a plane normal thereto, and flexible means for supportingsaid slat, in combination with a spring to said slat when the clip isinserted into said clip apertures, said clip comprising a hook disposedproximate said release aperture.

.4. In a Venetian blind having a slat with a pair of apertures in theedge face thereof, and a flexible tape for supporting the slat, a clipinsertable into the apertures to connect the flexible tape to the slat,said clip comprising a piece of spring wire with a hook ateach endthereof, said hooks being adapted to be temporarily deformed by saidapertures as they are inserted through said apertures intoengagementwith said slat.

5. In a Venetian blind having a slat with a hollow reinforced edgeportion having a pair of apertures in the edge face of the slat, one ofwhich apertures passes transversely through said edge portion while theother merely opens into said edge portion, and a flexible tape forsupporting the slat, a clip insertable into the apertures to connect theflexible tape to the edge portion of said slat, said clip comprising apiece of spring wire with a hook at each end thereof, one of said hooksbeing adapted to engage the slat at a point within said hollow edgeportion and the other book being adapted to engage'the edge portionafter having passed through said transverse aperture.

6. A Venetian blind comprising a slat of strip sheet metal having bentportions proximate the longitudinal edges thereof substantially normalto the plane of the strip, said bent portions having apertures in theedge face of said slat, and flexible means for supporting said slat, incombination with a resiliently deformable clip for connecting thefiexiblenieans to the slat by pressing the clip into said apertures.

7. A Venetian blind comprising a slat of strip sheet metal having beniportions proximate the longitudinal edges thereof in the form of atubular reinforcement disposed at each edge of said slat, said bentportions having apertures at the edge face of said slat, and flexiblemeans for supporting said slat, in combination with a resilientlydeformable clip for connecting the flexible means to the slat bypressing the clip into said apertures.

8. A Venetian blind comprising a sheet metal slat having reinforced edgeportions, said edge portions having apertures in the edge face of theslat, flexible means for supporting said slat, in combination with aspring clip for connecting the flexible means to the slat through saidapertures.

9. A Venetian blind comprising a sheet metal slat having reinforced edgeportions, said edge portions having apertures in the edge faces of theaspring clip for connecting the flexible means to the slat through oneof said apertures, said clip comprising a hook engaging one of saidreinforced edge portions, said edge portion being formed to permitaccess to said hook whereby the hook may be released from engagementwith the slat.

10. A Venetian blind slat usable with any suitable means by which aplurality of similar slats are spaced and flexibly connected, comprisinga strip of thin sheet metal stiifened by having the edges thereoi. bentover with respect to the plane of the strip, said strip also having aplurality of groups of apertures disposed in each edge face of said slatforming openings disposed in a plane substantially normal to the planeof the slat.

11. A Venetian blind slat usable with any suitable means by which aplurality of similar slats are spaced and flexibly connected, comprisinga strip of thin sheet metal stiflened by having the edges thereof bentover with respect to the plane of the strip, said strip also having atleast two aperture means disposed in each edge face of said slat"forming openings disposed in a plane substantially normal to the planeof the slat.

12. A Venetian blind slat comprising a strip of thin sheet metalstiffened by having the edges thereof bent to a position substantiallynormal to the plane of the strip and having apertures formed in thestrip in the bent portions of said edges to form openings in a planesubstantially normal to the plane of the slat.

13. A Venetian blind slat comprising a strip of thin sheet metalstiffened by having the edges thereof bent with respect to the plane ofthe strip to form an edge face and having apertures formed by the stripwhich are ultimately dis-' posed in the bent portions of said edges toform openings in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the slat.

'14. A Venetian blind slat comprising a strip of thin sheet metal whichhas been stiffened by having the longitudinal edges thereof formed intospaced relationship with respect to said strip, said strip also havingapertures which open into the space between said strip and the formededges thereof and disposed in a plane substantially normal to the planeof said slat.

15. A Venetian blind slat comprising a strip of thin sheet metalstiffened by having the longitudinal edges thereof bent into spacedrelationship with respect to said strip to form at each edge of the slata tubular reinforcement adjacent the plane of the strip, saidreinforcement forming on said slat an edge face, said strip also formingapertures disposed in a plane substantially normal to the plane of saidstrip and opening from the edge face of the slat into the tubularreinforcements.

16. A Venetian blind comprising a sheet metal slat forming at the edgeface thereof an engaging aperture disposed in a plane normal to theplane of the slat, and flexible means for supporting said slat incombination with a spring clip for engaging a portion of said flexiblemeans and connecting the same to the edge face of said slat by pressingthe clip into said aperture.

17. A Venetian blind comprising a sheet metal slat forming a pluralityof clip engaging apertures disposed at the edge thereof in a planenormil to the"plane of'the slat, and a plurality of flexible means forsupporting said slat in combination with a spring clip for connectingeach flexible meansto the edge of said slat by pressing said clips,respectively, into said apertures.

18. A Venetian blind comprising a sheet metal slat forming a pluralityof groups of clip engage ing apertures disposed at the edge face thereofin a plane normal to the plane of the slat, and

a plurality of flexible means for supporting said slat in combinationwith a spring clip for connecting each flexible means to the edge faceof said slat, said clips oomprising'slat engaging means insertable intothe apertures of one of said groups. Y 1

19. A Venetian blind comprising a slat having aperture means disposed atthe edge thereof in a plane normal to the plane of the slat, and aflexible tape for supporting the slat, in combination with clip meansfor connecting the flex- 4 ible tape to the slat, said clip comprising apiece of wire bent to form a tape engaging portion having a slatengaging portion disposed at each end thereof and adapted tocooperativelyengage said aperture means.

20. A Venetian blind comprising a slat having at a longitudinal edgethereof and disposed in a plane normal to that of the slat, a clipengaging means, and flexible means for supporting said slat incombination with a clip engaging a portion of said flexible means andconnectin the same to the clip engaging means. 7, a

21. A Venetian blind slat including aperture means to which a slatsupporting member may be connected to a longitudinal edge face thereofat a point disposed wholly in a plane lying in a region substantiallynormal to that of the slat.

22. A'Venetian blind slat including aperture means formed by a thinwalled portion disposed at a longitudinal edge face of the slat and at apoint disposed in a plane lying substantially normal to that of the slatfor use in connecting thereto a slat supporting member.

23. A Venetian blind slat having length and width and an overallthickness extending over at least a portion of the width and at leastthe slats adapted by the manipulation of suitable raising and loweringcords to be stacked one upon the other whereby the bundling height ofsaid slats is no greater than the summation of the thickness of saidplurality of slats, each of said slats having at a longitudinal edgethereof and in a plane normal tothat of the slat a clip engaging means,and flexible means for supporting said slats in spaced relationship toone another. in combination with a releasably engageable spring clipmeans for each of said slats engaging respectively, at spaced intervals,9. portion of said flexible means, and connecting said portions,respectively, to said clip engaging means.

25. A Venetian blind comprising a plurality of slats adapted by themanipulation of suitable raising and lowering cords to be stacked uponeach other, whereby the bundling height of said slats is no greater,than the summation of the thicknesses of said plurality of slats, eachof said slats having preformed apertures in a longitudinal edge thereofand in a plane normal to that of the slat, and flexible means forsupporting said .slats in spaced relationship to one another, in

combination with substantially U-shaped clips engaging a portion of saidflexible means at spaced intervals throughout the'length thereof forconnecting said portions, respectively, to said slat through saidapertures.

26. A Venetian blind comprising a plurality of sheet metal slatshaving alength and width and an overall thickness extending over at least a portion of the width and substantially the length of the slat to providelongitudinal stiffness against excessive bending, each slat havingpreformed clip engaging means in the edge face thereof, flexible meansfree to bend outwardly from the edge face of said slats for supportingsaid slats in spaced relationship to one another, and flexing when theslats are pulled closer together, and means securing the flexible meansto the clip engaging means at the edge face of the slat, in- 1 eludingmeans projecting from the dge of the slat and looping around a portionof said flexible means and having-a dimension in a direction normal tothe plane of the slat which is no greater than the overall thickness ofthe slat, whereby the slats may be elevated any distance by means ofraising and lowering cords until they are in contact with one anotherand the bundling height of said slats is no greater than the summationof the overall thicknesses of said plurality of slats.

27; .A Venetian blind comprising a plurality of slats having a lengthand width and overall thickness extending over at least a portion of thewidth and substantially the length of the slat to provide longitudinalstiffness against excessive bending, saidslats having a preformedaperture in the edge face thereof which face results from the overallthickness of the slat, flexible means free to bend outwardly from theedge face of said slats for supporting said slats in spaced relationshipto one another and flexing when the slats are pulled closer together andmeans looped around a portion of said flexible means and insertablethrough the aperture and secured to the slat, the insertable meanshaving a dimension in a direction normal to the plane of the slat whichis no greater than the overall thickness of the slat, whereby the slatsmay be elevated any distance by means of raising and lowering cordsuntil they are in contact with one another and the bundling height ofthe slats is no greater than the summation of the thicknesses of saidplurality of slats.

28. In a Venetian blind the combination with a plurality of slatsprovided with a plurality of apertures in a longitudinal edge thereof,said slats including a top and bottom slat having flexible suspensionelements extending laterally therefrom, of spring-holding membersinserted under stress into certain of said apertures in a plurality ofsaid slats and securing said flexible suspension elements thereto in areadily detachable manner.

29. In a Venetian blind the combination with a slat provided with anapertured longitudinal edge having flexible suspension elementsextending laterally therefrom, of spring-holding members inserted understress into certain of the apertures in said slat and securing saidflexible suspension elements to said slat in a readily detachablemanner.

30. In a Venetian blind, a series of tiltable slats provided with aplurality of apertures in a longitudinal edge thereof, in combinationwith flat supporting straps extending therefrom, of springholdingmembers insertable under stress into certain of said apertures andforming detachable connections between said straps and said slats.

31. In a Venetian blind, a slat having orifices extending into alongitudinal edge thereof, flexible suspension elements to be connectedto said slat, and means for detachably anchoring said flexiblesuspension elements to said slat, compris-- ing prong members removablyinserted in said orifices, said prong members and oriflces beingdisposed in a plane extending transversely of the normal direction ofthe pull of the respective flexible suspension element thereon.

32. A Venetian blind comprising, a plurality of slats, each havingaperture means formed in the longitudinal edge face thereof through athin wall portion forming a clearance space behind the same, a flexiblemeans for supporting said slats 'in spaced relationship to one another,in combination with means each having a vertical dimension no greaterthan the thickness of the slat for engaging the flexible means andconnecting said flexible means to the edge faces of said slats throughsaid aperture means, whereby said flexible means is free to bendoutwardly from the edge face of said slats to permit the elevationthereof into a face-to-face contact with one another.

SAMUEL

